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I "passed" on what I believe was a good buck this past weekend in NW Wisc because I didn't feel like I had a good shot. I'd like some input from you.
Here's the scenario: I'm in my tree stand in a very remote area in NW Wisconsin. It's a very large chunk of wooded county land that isn't very accessible. I'm reasonably confident my brother is the only other person in the area and he is over 400 yards away thru some very thick popple trees (where logging had been done approx 10 yrs earlier). The area where I'm sitting is hardwood and quite open in an area approx 50 yds in diameter. Beyond that it's still a hardwood forest, but there's quite a bit of thick under-growth.
At around 3:30 I rattled with my new rattling bag for about 45 seconds and then grunted with my buck grunt call a few times. At about 4pm I saw movement about 150 yds away (opposite direction from my brother). There was a lot of thick undergrowth to look thru, but using my 7mm's scope (set at about 4.5) I could tell it was a deer, and more importantly, it had a tall rack that definitely forked (in other words, it appeared to be a good buck). It was so thick, though, that I couldn't make it out completely. I could see part of it's head, then part of it's front shoulder, then part of it's body, then part of it's hind quarter. At 1 pt it looked it was browsing on the ground (assume acorns). Then it looked like it was rubbing it's antlers on a tree. Mind you, this was all view thru my scope and then thru thick underbrush. I was hopeful it was moving in my direction, but after a bit it appeared to be moving off. I grunted with my deep grunt call. The buck turned and moved back in the opposite direction. I could never see a clear shot of any part of the deer. Then, I noticed I had a bead on it's left eyeball. Couldn't see the rest of the head or the antlers or the body. It was a possible opening, but I didn't feel right about pulling the trigger, so I waited. I thought, "...maybe he'll head this way..." But then I saw it turn back in its original direction, and slowly move off and eventually out of site. I could definitely have safely thrown some lead in his direction, but I was confident it would not be a good shot.
What would you have done? Would you have taken the shot or waited? Did I have other options?
Sure interested in hearing your insight.
Thanks,
Dave Dawson
NW Wisconsin
Here's the scenario: I'm in my tree stand in a very remote area in NW Wisconsin. It's a very large chunk of wooded county land that isn't very accessible. I'm reasonably confident my brother is the only other person in the area and he is over 400 yards away thru some very thick popple trees (where logging had been done approx 10 yrs earlier). The area where I'm sitting is hardwood and quite open in an area approx 50 yds in diameter. Beyond that it's still a hardwood forest, but there's quite a bit of thick under-growth.
At around 3:30 I rattled with my new rattling bag for about 45 seconds and then grunted with my buck grunt call a few times. At about 4pm I saw movement about 150 yds away (opposite direction from my brother). There was a lot of thick undergrowth to look thru, but using my 7mm's scope (set at about 4.5) I could tell it was a deer, and more importantly, it had a tall rack that definitely forked (in other words, it appeared to be a good buck). It was so thick, though, that I couldn't make it out completely. I could see part of it's head, then part of it's front shoulder, then part of it's body, then part of it's hind quarter. At 1 pt it looked it was browsing on the ground (assume acorns). Then it looked like it was rubbing it's antlers on a tree. Mind you, this was all view thru my scope and then thru thick underbrush. I was hopeful it was moving in my direction, but after a bit it appeared to be moving off. I grunted with my deep grunt call. The buck turned and moved back in the opposite direction. I could never see a clear shot of any part of the deer. Then, I noticed I had a bead on it's left eyeball. Couldn't see the rest of the head or the antlers or the body. It was a possible opening, but I didn't feel right about pulling the trigger, so I waited. I thought, "...maybe he'll head this way..." But then I saw it turn back in its original direction, and slowly move off and eventually out of site. I could definitely have safely thrown some lead in his direction, but I was confident it would not be a good shot.
What would you have done? Would you have taken the shot or waited? Did I have other options?
Sure interested in hearing your insight.
Thanks,
Dave Dawson
NW Wisconsin
